Fabric decorative effect



April 22, 1941. 7 cl EMMEY EWTA'L. 9, 5

' FABRIG DECORATIVE EF ECT Filed Oct. 15. 1939 Patented Apr. 22, 1941 FABRIC DECORATIVE EFFECT Charles Emmey, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Mark V.

Hamburger, Lynn, Mass; said Hamburger assignor to said Emmey Application October 13, 1939, Serial No. 299,232

11 Claims. (Cl. 41-34) The present invention relates to fabric decoration and more particularly to a fabric having a novel openwork decorative effect as well as to the means and method for producing such effect.

The present invention contemplates the provision of new and striking decorative effects in fab- IlCS.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of a method for producing such a fabric decorative effect, which is simple, inexpensive and durable.

Other and further advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following de-. scription and from the drawing in connection therewith, in which Fig. 1 is a front plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing decorative lettering arranged on a scarf.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken along the lines 22 of Fig. l. i

Fig. 3 is a front plan view of the grommet.

Fig.4 is a side elevational view of the grommet, the inner edges bent to form a channel.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of a decorative letter.

Fig. 6 is a front plan view of the frame.

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a fabric showing a modified means of construction to prevent fraying of the fringes adjacent the opening.

In the accompanying drawing, there has been illustrated the arrangement of decorative openwork lettering on a scarf. t is to be understood that in place of the lettering any type of open work design, indicia or decoration, or the like, may be used in place of such lettering. Therefore, it is to be understood that when the word decoration or decorations is used herein in the specification or the claims, it is intended to designate thereby generally letters or lettering, designs, indicia, decorations, emblems and the like. It is also to be understood that in place of a scarf as a background for said decorations, any article made from fabric or the like, such as a garment, tablecloth, napkins, handkerchiefs or the like, may be employed and the word fabric is intended generally to designate such-like articles.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the scarf I 9 is provided with an opening 12, which may be rectangular in contour or any other desired contour.

It is desirable, in order to effect a more durable construction, to prevent the edges of the scarf adjacent the opening from fraying. Therefore, a

cloth rommet i4 is preferably provided. The grommet I4 is preferably made from a, flat piece of fabric I5, such as cotton or linen, preferably conforming in contour to the contour of the opening l2. In the present embodiment, such grommet-forming fabric I5 is made rectangular in shape as illustrated in Fig. 3. i

The grommet-forming fabric i5 is larger than the opening I2 in the scarf and is provided with an opening it in the center thereof. Diagonal slits I8 are cut in the cloth 15 extending from each inner corner of the cloth adjacent the opening 16 to provide flaps 26 on the inner part thereof. These flaps 29 are then folded over preferably so that the edges 22 of the flap adjacent the opening It are bent and aligned with the perimeter edges 24 of the grommet-forming cloth. Thus, there is provided a grommet having a chanhe] 28, formed completely throughout its inner periphery and in which the cut edges of the openare well known in the art and need not be de-' scribed in detail here. It is to be understood, of course, that other adhesive materials, Well known in the art, may also be used.

When the grommet cloth is folded in the form illustrated in Fig. 4, the adhesive is arranged on 1 the inner face of the cloth in the channel 28.

The grommet is then arranged. so that the edges 30 of the scarf HJ bordering on the opening 12 enter and extend to the inner wall of the channel 28 of the grommet. The enlarged opening 32 formed in the grommet after the edges are folded is preferably substantially as large as the opening 12 in the fabric less the thickness of the grommet cloth E5 on each side of said opening l2.

The grommet is then secured to the scarf by the application of heat and pressurethereto as by an ordinary household laundry iron, the thermoplastic adhesive used having suitable temperature and pressure characteristics. Of course, it is to be understood that the grommet might be secured to the scarf by sewing, by fasteners, by a moist adhesive, or any other convenient means. If desired, the edges of the scarf adjacent the opening may be folded over and sewed together, thereby eliminating the use of a grommet.

Decorations, in the illustration the embroidered initials 34, are preferably secured by means of the thermoplastic adhesive heretofore described to a suitable fabric backing 36, such as muslin, linen or the like. comparatively small portions of the backing material extend beyond the ends of the decorations to provide the tabs 35.

It will, of course, be understood that the decorations 34 may be cut out from any desired fabric material or made in any other desired manner and suitably arranged on the backing 36. Where embroidered decorations are used, the embroidery need not extend to the ends of material embroidered, the unembroidered ends thereof forming the tabs 35.

Other ways of preparing the decorations and/or arranging them on a backing will readily occur to anyone versed in the art. It is preferred that the decorations 34 be of such a size that the tabs 35 extending from the ends of the decorations just fit over the edges of the grommet and that the decoration 34 itself lies completely within the opening 32 in the grommet. It is to be undertsood, of course, that the decorations, preferably, do not completely cover the opening 32 so that an openwork efiect may be achieved by leaving spaces between the decorations or between the decorations and the grommet. It is to be understood, however, that the decorations are preferably so large that no portion of the tabs 35 will appear in the opening and that the decorations are preferably sufficiently long to reach from the top to the bottom of the grommet or from side to side therein, or diagonally across, whichever is preferred.

It is also to be understood that more than one design, decoration or indicia may be inserted in the opening, it being preferred, however, that the openwork effect be secured by providing preferably cut-out or openwork decorations or designs that do not themselves completely cover the opening 32.

It is preferred that the decorations are somewhat stiff, the degree of desired stiffness being accomplished by the choice of materials used so that the decorations or letters When arranged thereon will not fold up but will maintain their shape.

The tabs 35 are preferably provided on their faces 31 adjacent the grommet or scarf with a thermoplastic adhesive such as hereinbefore described, and thereby secured to the fabric on the grommet, by means of heat or heat and pressure, although it will be understood that the decorations may be secured to the fabric Within the opening in any other suitable manner.

A border or frame 48 is preferably provided which, if desired, may be made of embroidered material similar to the decoration 34. The frame 4!! is provided with an inner opening 42 which preferably conforms to the size of the opening 32,. The exterior portions of the border or frame may be shaped as desired. It will be understood that when the frame 43 is fitted around the opening 32 so that the opening 42 coincides with the opening 32, the frame itself is of sufficient width to cover the grommet M and the tabs 35 and conceal them from view. Furthermore, the frame will fit closely around the decoration and act as a decorative border therefor. The inner face of the frame 42] is preferably provided with the thermoplastic adhesive and is secured to the grommet or scarf by the application of heat or heat and pressure thereto as heretofore described.

While We have described the application of heat or heat and pressure to secure the various members together in successive steps, it will readily be apparent that they may first be assembled together and then secured together by the application of heat or heat and pressure in a single step. It is to be understood, of course, that different variations of this method may oc our to those skilled in the art or that the various parts may be secured together by other methods.

Referring now to Fig. 8, another means for preventing fraying of the edges of the fabric adjacent the opening, which means dispenses with the grommet, is to hemstitch the fabric completely about an area 59 of the fabric of selected dimensions, which area of fabric is to be cut away to provide the opening in which the decoration is to be arranged. After hemstitching the fabric, it is out along the cross-threads 52 of the hemstitch, leaving the opening 54, the edges of which are held against fraying by the successive hemstitches 56. This provides a simple and comparatively inexpensive method of securing the opening edges against fraying.

After thus forming the opennig 54, the decoration is arranged therewithin and secured to the fabric, preferably in the manner heretofore described.

Variations such as herein described may be made and further variations from the foregoing description will readily occur to anyone versed in the art. Therefore, While we have described the present invention in specific detail, we do not intend to be limited thereby, but intend to secure our invention as broadly as the scope of the following claims and the state of the prior art permit.

We claim:

1. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, a grommet arranged on the edges of the opening and secured to the fabric by a thermoplastic adhesive, a decoration arranged within the opening, tabs extending from the decoration and secured to the grommet by a thermoplastic adhesive and a decorative frame conforming in contour to the opening and arranged thereabout on the said grommet and tabs, said frame being of size sufficient to cover the said grommet and tabs and secured to the fabric by a thermoplastic adhesive.

2. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, a grommet arranged on the edges of the opening and secured to the fabric by an adhesive, a decoration arranged within the opening, tabs extending from the decoration and secured to the grommet by an adhesive and a decorative frame conforming in contour to the opening and arranged thereabout on the said grommet and tabs, said frame being of size sufficient to cover the said grommet and tabs and secured to the fabric by an adhesive.

3. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, a grommet arranged on the edges of the opening, a decoration arranged within the opening, tabs extending from the decoration and secured to the grommet and a decorative frame conforming in contour to the opening and arranged thereabout over the grommet and tabs, said frame being of sufficient dimensions to cover said grommet and tabs.

4. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, means for preventing fraying the edges of said fabric adjacent said opening, a decoration arranged within the said opening and forming an openwork effect therewith, and means extending from the decoration for securing the said decoration within the opening to the fabric, said means comprising tabs extending from said decoration and secured to the fabric adjacent the opening.

5. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, means for protecting the edges of said fabric adjacent said opening against fraying, one or more decorations arranged within said opening and forming an openwork effect therewith and means for securing said decorations to the fabric within the opening, said means comprising a backing member arranged on the back of said decorations and having portions thereof extending beyond said decorations, said extended portions being secured to the fabric adjacent the opening.

6. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, means for preventing fraying of the edges of the fabric adjacent said opening, a decoration arranged within the said opening and forming an openwork effect therewith and means for securing the said decoration to the fabric within the opening, said means including tabs extending from said decoration and secured to the fabric: adjacent said opening and a decorative frame for said decoration arranged around said opening, covering said tabs and se cured to the fabric.

7. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, a decoration, arranged within the said opening, means for preventing fraying of the edges of said fabric adjacent the opening, said means comprising a grommet adapted to be arranged around the edges of the fabric adjacent said opening and having a channel formed around the perimeter thereof into which said edges fit and are secured, and means attached to the grommet for securing said decoration within the opening to the fabric.

8. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, means for reenforcing the edges of said fabric adjacent said opening comprising hemstitching arranged around said edges adjacent the opening, a decoration arranged within the said opening and forming an openwork effect therewith and means for securing the said decoration within the opening to the fabric.

9. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, means for preventing fraying or" the edges of said fabric adjacent said opening, a decoration arranged within the said opening, and forming an openwork effect therewith and means for securing the said decoration within the opening to the fabric.

10. The method of arranging decorations on a fabric to produce an openwork effect therewith comprising the steps of cutting an opening in said fabric of the same height as said decoration and wider than said decoration, arranging a cloth grommet around the edges of said fabric adjacent said opening, arranging decorations having tabs extending therefrom in said opening with the tabs secured to the fabric at the edges thereof adjacent said opening and spacing said decorations so that there are open spaces between said decorations and the fabric on the side of the opening, to thereby produce an open- Work effect, and arranging a frame around said opening to cover said tabs.

11. In combination, a fabric having an opening therein, a piece of material having an opening therein and slits extending upwardly from the said opening to thereby form flaps between the said slots, said flaps bent over to form channels adjacent the opening in the material, the edges of the fabric adjacent the opening therein being arranged in the channels formed in the material and secured therein to the material and a decoration arranged within the opening in the fabric and secured to the fabric.

CHAS. EMMEY. MARK V. HAMBURGER. 

